#equine behaviour

Introduction: Dangerous behavior is considered an undesired trait, often attributed to poor training or bad-tempered horses. Unfortunately, horses with progressive signs of dangerous behavior are often euthanized due to concerns for rider safety and limitations in performance. However, this dangerous behavior may actually originate from chronic axial skeleton pain. This case series describes the medical histories and clinical presentations of horses presented for performance limitations and dangerous behavior judged to be related to intractable axial skeleton pain.

...

Fourteen horses that developed severe performance limitations resulting in euthanasia were included. A complete spinal examination and behavioral responses, gait and neurologic evaluations, diagnostic imaging, gross pathologic and histopathologic examinations of the axial skeleton were performed on all horses. A tentative diagnosis of the affected spinal region was formulated using medical records, owner and trainer complaints, and antemortem examination findings.

...

Ten horses showed severe behavioral responses during the myofascial and mobilization examinations. Based on an aggregate evaluation, the cervicothoracic and lumbosacral regions were the most common regions believed to be the primary area of concern. All horses had moderate to severe ganglionitis present at multiple vertebral levels. Subdural and epidural hemorrhage or hematomas were a common finding (71%) in the cervicothoracic and lumbosacral regions.

...

The mean age was 9.4 ± 2.6 years and included eleven geldings and three mares. The breeds included eight warmbloods, four Thoroughbreds, one Quarter Horse, and one Andalusian. Eight of the horses were used for dressage, four for eventing, one for show hunting, and one for barrel racing. The owners' chief complaint and reports of dangerous behavior were recorded. In 12 horses, the time from purchase to euthanasia was 2.5 ± 1.8 years. The other two horses were raised by their owner, and the time from initial complaint to euthanasia was less well-defined. 

Related article:

Blinking and licking are good signs of thinking, relaxed horses – if they are not doing this, they are not calm – they’re terrified and possibly a bit catatonic.  Horses who are like this and keep getting pushed are the horses who spook/buck/explode and people say, “it came out of no where!”  No, it did not – you just weren’t really listening.

Horses have tri-focal vision.  The bottom, middle, and top of their eyes focus at different distances.  The top part of the eye is for things that are close-up, which is why horses typically lower their heads to look at you and/or inspect you with one eye when you’re near them.  When a horse is looking through the middle of its eye, then it can see what’s going on around it, while the bottom of the eye is the far-sighted portion of the eye.  Horses that fight to lift their head when approaching a jump are trying to judge the distance between them and the obstacle (so, let them).

Cock a foot (i.e. shift your weight more on one side) when chillin’ – this a relaxed, friendly posture when you’re not asking anything of them (they do this themselves all the time).  

Don’t stare them down if you can help it – predators do this.  We have forward facing eyes for depth perception; prey animals do not as their eyes are on the sides of their head.  Humans are predators.  They don’t know you won’t decide to eat them at some point.  Just because you haven’t eaten them yet, doesn’t mean you can’t later.  Anyone getting stared down by a mountain lion would feel uncomfortable.

Don’t approach them dead-on. Again, their eyes are off to the side rather than forward-facing like a predator. Predators approach in direct lines.  Horses meander, so approach them with your body and path at more of an angle, if possible.

Don’t pat them - stroke them instead.  Horses like feeling safe and comfortable.  Dogs and other predators like higher-energy rough praise.  Horses do not appreciate a pat in the same way that a dog might.  

I could go on for a very long time, but basically, if you stop and consider how your actions as a predator may be interpreted to a prey animal and adjust to accommodate that, then you’ll have a horse that will be calmer and more inclined to trust you.  I am constantly floored by the fact that a prey animal, such as a horse, can feel comfortable enough to let a predator on its back.  I’d say they do it like it’s no big whoop, but it IS a big whoop.  That’s like allowing a cougar on your back (they kill you by attacking your neck, so that’s a very vulnerable position) and being, like, “this is fine.”

The 19 year old PRE stallion that lives next to my boys. He does this every time I walk one of my two geldings back to their field. Best with the sound on.

A quick little article regarding studies that show that the majority of horses in work that are presumed to be sound, probably aren’t. They touch on warning signs such as reluctance to be tacked up, pinned ears, gaping mouths, unwillingness to go forward etc.